The Philippines is among the participating countries in the international “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign scheduled this week to celebrate the month of the Holy Rosary

The Catholic pastoral charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), said during the event slated on October 18, participants will be simultaneously praying for peace and unity in the world.

“This year’s prayer campaign is dedicated in particular to the children in Syria, the innocent victims of the never-ending war,” ACN president Cardinal Mauro Piacenza said.

ACN said the event would also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the miraculous appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary before three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.

It said some local dioceses and religious communities have already committed to join the event.

Piacenza however urged the faithful to allow their children to join the event to emulate the example of the children of Fatima in heeding the “message of heaven” for peace.

“The children understood the language of Our Lady and most importantly, believed her words. Shouldn’t we doing so much more to teach children and support them in playing a part in the peace plan, a plan that more topical than ever today?,” Piacenza said.

The “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” was first held in Venezuela in 2005 to realize the statement of St. Padre Pio that a million children praying the rosary will change the world.

In 2016, children from 69 countries participated in the global prayer campaign.